Getting hold of the 3rd spot with 16 points from 12 matches, RCB reached the playoffs for the second successive IPL. To read more…

With 16 points from 12 games, RCB thus became the third team after CSK and DC to make it to the last four!

For most batsmen in this IPL, conditions at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium have been tough. But it was a cakewalk for Maxwell on Sunday. Trusting his natural game, Maxi played a powerful knock that proved to be a key factor in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s narrow six-run victory over Punjab Kings. Virat Kohli’s team also sealed a play-offs berth with the win coming as a bonus. Kohli can even gun for a top-two finish in the group stage if they win their remaining couple of matches.

Maxwell’s 57 of 34 led RCB to a decent total of 164/7 before Yuzvendra Chahal took 3 wickets using his competence well to keep Punjab under pressure. The young lad, Harshal Patel bowled a magnificent final over as Punjab’s run chase ceased at 158/6. Winning the toss, Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal gave their team a solid start. But from 68 without loss in the 10th over which is a relatively low score, RCB lost both openers as well as Dan Christian, who was promoted as the 3rd batsman, by adding just five runs.

And that’s when Maxwell took over having partnered with the stalwart AB de Villiers at the other end of the wicket. The 73-run partnership between Maxwell and De Villiers turned out to be priceless in yesterday’s match. 

RCB fans genuinely wish their team to win for the first time in IPL history in 2021. Their performance in the play-offs will decide whether they will be able to keep their heads held high or not!